It's martian Kaymer - McIlroy

Rory McIlroy hailed Martin Kaymer as an extraterrestrial after he was left powerless to prevent his German rival from romping to an eight-stroke victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The Ulster ace, 21, was Kaymer’s nearest challenger entering the final round but instead of mounting a challenge to the 26-year old from Dusseldorf, McIlroy finished up even further behind as he carded a 69 to a 66 by the reigning US PGA champion who leapfrogs Tiger Woods to become the new world No 2.

Putting Kaymer’s brilliant performance in perspective, McIlroy told his Twitter followers: “Martin was on a different planet all week!”

Both men birdied the second but the contest ended quckly when McIlroy took four to find the third green and did well to make a bogey five as Kaymer birdied to extend his lead to seven strokes.

Another McIlroy bogey at the fifth allowed Kaymer to move eight strokes in front and cruise to his third victory in Abu Dhabi in the last four years.

“Martin’s just incredible, up to world number two and deservedly so,” McIlroy said. “He’s playing some great golf and he was in total control of his golf ball out there today. Didn’t make a bogey and he’s only made one bogey all week. It was very impressive. He’s a class act, he really is.”

Out in 34 thanks to those birdies at the second and third, the German star picked up further shots at the 10th, 13th, 16th and 18th to set a tournament scoring record of 24 under par.

“I am very happy especially the way I played golf today, and actually the last four days as I made only one bogey the entire week,” Kaymer said.

“The most important thing for me today was that I have fun, and if I have fun, then I play good golf. I played with Rory today and we definitely had a lot of fun on the golf course.”

Graeme McDowell finished a distant joint third with Retief Goosen (64), ten strokes adrift of Kaymer on 14-under par, to secure solo fourth place in the world rankings behind Lee Westwood, Kaymer and Woods.

The US Open champion was tied for fourth in the world with Phil Mickelson but the American could only manage a share of 37th place on five under after rounds of 71, 70, 72 and 70.

The Portrush player, who is in the form of his life, shot a five under par 67 and is now an impressive is 37 under par for his first eight rounds of 2011 with his new Srixon irons.

McIlroy was happy to finish second in his first outing of 2011 and likely to return to the world’s top 10 when the ranking are updated on Monday.

Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin (69), 125th in the world starting the week, will also move up the rankings following his excellent share of fifth place with England’s David Lynn.

McIlroy second again as Kaymer collapses

Perhaps Rory McIlroy was hoping to take Martin Kaymer's eye off the ball when he said he was playing for second in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Whatever his feelings about his chances of overcoming an eight-shot deficit with resepct to the German, who was going for his fourth win in the event, his fourth runner up finish in Abu Dhabi in five years, not to mention his impressive form from tee to green, confirmed that he's going to be the man to beat once more in 2015.

Major test for McIlroy

No one will be more disappointed than Rory McIlroy if he fails to mount a serious challenge for the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday.

Just one stroke adrift of Martin Kaymer and tied for second place with England's Ian Poulter, the world No 10 has an opportunity to get 2010 off to the best possible start and silence a few critics at the same time.

Maybin faultless as Rory pays for Abu Dhabi don't

Rory McIlroy had plenty of problems with sand in the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comGareth Maybin is a stroke off the lead in the $2.5m Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - just seven weeks after struggling to keep his card in his last tournament appearance.

But his bogey-free 36 holes was still overshadowed by a two-stroke penalty for Rory McIlroy and positive performances for Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and former world No 1 Tiger Woods.